| Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, is identified by the | | | | another.There is no conclusive evidence as to the |
| American Psychiatric Association in children who show | | | | causes of ADD. ADD may be genetic, prenatal or |
| an inappropriate attention span, are too impulsive and | | | | physical. Due to the possible causes, many children are |
| sometimes are deemed hyperactive given their age. | | | | medicated as an answer to addressing the symptoms. |
| ADD can be diagnosed either with or without | | | | There is no one medication that is successful in all |
| hyperactivity. Teachers and parents alike have | | | | children who exhibit ADD symptoms. The most |
| received and will continue to receive a diagnosis of | | | | common medications are Dexedrine, Ritalin and |
| ADD for children who have problems academically, | | | | Cylert.There are often other learning difficulties ranging |
| socially or emotionally. Around 20 percent of the | | | | from learning disabilities to emotional disturbance that |
| population will eventually be diagnosed with | | | | ADD is often secondary to. The sooner a correct |
| ADD.Children between eight and ten years old are the | | | | diagnosis is made and help begun, the better the odds |
| ones most likely to be diagnosed with ADD, having | | | | of avoiding other complications.The nature of this |
| been referred to a doctor by teachers as well as | | | | disorder would indicate that the child's attention skills will |
| parents. The younger the child is when diagnosed, the | | | | need a lot of work. Children must be able to pay |
| more serious forms of ADD they are likely to exhibit. In | | | | attention for stretches of time in order to learn and |
| reverse, when older children are diagnosed, they | | | | succeed in school. They must learn to finish projects |
| generally exhibit a less serious form of the disorder. | | | | once they are started. They must learn to listen and |
| ADD shows up most readily in situations where the | | | | be assisted to have as few distractions as possible. |
| child is required to work independently or in a group | | | | These children need to be assisted in building up their |
| setting. One-on-one situations or situations that are | | | | attention span.Impulsivity in these children also needs |
| new to the child tend not to display ADD behaviors as | | | | assistance. School-aged children have to be trained to |
| much.The American Psychiatric Association looks for | | | | stop and think before they answer or start their work. |
| these things in diagnosing ADD:1. Inattention - does not | | | | This requires quite a bit of supervision initially, but must |
| finish things once started, appears not to listen, is easily | | | | eventually become the student's responsibility requiring |
| distracted, cannot focus on schoolwork or anything | | | | a larger degree of self-control.If hyperactivity is |
| requiring a longer attention span, does not stay with a | | | | present, it can interfere with learning. Children must |
| play activity for long.2. Impusivity - acts without thinking | | | | learn to slow down and become aware of their |
| about consequences, moves excessively from one | | | | situations and surroundings. One helpful activity is "The |
| task to another, does not organize work though this is | | | | Turtle Imagery Procedure" in which the student says |
| not because of any cognitive impairment, must have | | | | he or she will proceed like a slow turtle as part of a |
| supervision, talks out in class, does not wait his or her | | | | structured program. Other means of controlling |
| turn in group situations.3. Hyperactivity - ADD may be | | | | hyperactivity include modeling of appropriate behavior |
| diagnosed with or without hyperactivity, but a | | | | by adults, watching themselves on videotape, role |
| hyperactive child will do at least two of these: run or | | | | playing, biofeedback and relaxation techniques.A large |
| climb excessively, cannot sit still and fidgets, cannot | | | | problem of children with ADD is socializing with peers. |
| stay seated, moves around more than usual even | | | | When children are unable to make friends or get along |
| when asleep.4. ADD symptoms are usually seen | | | | well with others, they begin to have negative feelings |
| before age seven.5. The symptoms last at least six | | | | and impressions of themselves. There are other skill |
| months.6. The symptoms are not caused by | | | | short-comings in both perceptual and conceptual areas |
| schizophrenia, affective disorder or any type of | | | | that will need extra attention in the ADD student. A lot |
| profound mental retardation.Those who deal with ADD | | | | of the focus in this area is on the specific task being |
| children must work on improving the child's attention | | | | taught and utilizes a strong behavioral approach which |
| skills, impulsivity and possibly hyperactivity. The child's | | | | emphasizes incremental learning.Reinforcement |
| self-esteem and social skills will also need extra | | | | response seems to be affected in ADD children. |
| attention. Skills of a perceptual and conceptual nature | | | | However, for any assistance to be successful, parents |
| will have to be worked on. ADD appears to affect | | | | and teachers alike will need to find out what will be |
| children's responses to reinforcements and motivations | | | | reinforcing for a particular student. Then a |
| as well. Many of these needs in ADD children are | | | | reinforcement schedule can be mapped out. |
| interwoven, and how one thing is handled will affect | | | | |